KOLKATA: The West Bengal Police arrested two Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders from Magrahat Paschim in South 24 Parganas district for their alleged involvement in the attack on former BJP national president JP Nadda’s convoy in December 2020, officials confirmed on Monday.
The accused, Ripon Sheikh and Sanjib Mondal, were arrested by Usthi Police Station under Diamond Harbour police district. Police said revolvers and cartridges were seized from their possession.
During the investigation, police found that the two were allegedly involved in the attack on Nadda’s convoy at Shirakol in South 24 Parganas on December 10, 2020.
Chandrasekhar Bardhan, superintendent of Diamond Harbour police district, said a resident of the Padmapukur area had lodged a complaint, claiming that he feared being killed. The complainant alleged that some criminals had targeted him before the Bengal assembly elections held in April. Ripon and Sanjib were arrested based on his complaint.
“The complainant could not register the complaint at the police station before the assembly elections because of a life threat. He lodged it after the election process was over in the state. Two persons have been arrested so far in connection with his complaint,” Bardhan said.
“We have found the two accused’s links to the attack in December 2020. The case has been reopened, and the two accused will also be brought under it. Others involved in the incident will also be arrested. No one will be spared,” the SP added.
Police sources said the two accused were known as “influential TMC leaders” in the Magrahat Paschim area and had also faced allegations of involvement in anti-social activities.
The two have been taken into police custody and are being questioned to establish their alleged role in the 2020 incident. Investigators are also trying to determine the source of the firearms seized from them.
Nadda’s car was damaged and several people were injured despite security arrangements made by the district administration. Usthi Police Station had also arrested several people in connection with the attack.
Senior state BJP leaders Dilip Ghosh, currently the West Bengal Panchayat Affairs and Rural Development Minister, and the Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar, were present with Nadda during the incident.